Successful immunotherapy for Triatoma protracta-induced anaphylaxis.

A successful program of immunotherapy for Triatoma protracta-induced anaphylaxis was developed. This program included a new passive extract-antigen preparation standardized by RAST inhibition. This antigen facilitated the development of a reliable skin test protocol for in vivo diagnosis of Triatoma protracta allergy. Five patients with T. protracta-induced anaphylaxis underwent a rapidly increasing dosage schedule of immunotherapy. The IgE- and IgG-antibody responses during immunotherapy were followed with solid-phase RIA. Protection against anaphylaxis was confirmed in all patients with a "bite challenge" by T. protracta. This is the first report of completely successful T. protracta immunotherapy.